That’s my secret cap, I’m always wondering
Comment on We printed lots of copies.
PugJesus@piefed.social 1 week ago
Explanation For Those Wondering: The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius is famous today as a philosopher, and his so-called Meditations are a fantastic read, outlining the Greek philosophy of Stoicism and Aurelius’s own personal aphorisms and thoughts on the natural order of the universe, and how we can overcome hardship and love our fellow man.
… but the Meditations were not published in his lifetime, rather being a posthumous collection of his personal notes, which he had not opted to share with a wider audience! Should have bought a diary with a lock 😭
(It was not uncommon for prominent men in Ancient Rome to have their papers published after death by their heirs - even their private letters! - if they seemed to merit public interest, so Marcus probably wouldn’t be wholly surprised that everyone pawed through his belongings and personal thoughts)
NightFantom@slrpnk.net 1 week ago
The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world 1 week ago Thank you!
wjrii@lemmy.world 1 week ago
What about the papers where he expounded upon how he wanted to return to a fully-functioning Republic, but not for the benefit of the senatorial class? Release the Maximus files!!!
PugJesus@piefed.social 1 week ago
lmao, that always bugged the shit out of me once I got into Rome for realsies.
Marcus Aurelius was honestly more monarchial (in a consensus-oriented, enlightened absolutist sense) than previous Emperors, in line with his Gr*ekoid leanings, and co-ruled with Commodus for several years to prepare him for succession.
Not to mention that the Romans didn’t think the Republic had fallen to begin with. HE’S JUST THE FIRST CITIZEN
wjrii@lemmy.world 1 week ago
And yet, somehow it’s a more sophisticated ahistorical argument than whatever the fuck they were getting at in the sequel.
PugJesus@piefed.social 1 week ago
God, even as a Romaboo, I didn’t dare watch it. I did catch a few bits and pieces of horror, though, like:
Geta is the more competent and warlike of the two brothers (???????????)
Macrinus, an Emperor with Berber heritage who was born into a wealthy family, is portrayed as Black and a former slave, but both sons of Septimius Severus, who also had Berber heritage, are portrayed as lily-white???
Rome is making naval landings to conquer a peaceful North Africa in the 2nd century AD?
“Good Roman generals thought Rome should expand just a little bit more through war and then stop” when Roman expansion was often based on making vassals and allies, and only later annexing their land; and the ideology of the imperial era was explicitly that of an Imperium Sine Fine - an Empire without end - for the good of all the peoples under its aegis, and to impose peace?
Even Pedro Pascal couldn’t tempt me into watching it. I guess it doesn’t help that gladiators are the least interesting part of Rome for me, tbf. But if I thought it was good, I could have conditionally adored it just like the first Gladiator.